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Non-Ferrous Processing

Group Head

The Non-ferrous Process Group (NFP Group) is primarily involved in research and development activities on the extraction of non-ferrous metals from primary and secondary resources.

Strategic Metals: Current activities include the production of magnesium from calcined dolomite using the electro-thermal route. The process has been demonstrated on a pilot-plant scale with a capacity to produce 50 kg of metal per day. Production of sodium and gadolinium through electrolysis of molten salts are other major areas where expertise has been developed on commercial scale of operation. Process for recovery of tungsten from tailings of gold mines and alloy scrap has been developed.

E-Waste: Know-how has been developed for the recovery of metals like Co, Cu, REEs, Au, Pt from mobile batteries and hard disk magnets. These are being tested on a pilot-plant scale at present.

Other Metals: Production of zinc from dross; non-ferrous metal powders; pigment-grade iron from industrial waste are some of the major areas where extensive work has been carried and know-how developed and transferred to industries.

Major Facilities

Facilities for lab to pilot scale operations in Hydrometallurgy/Pyrometallurgy/Electrometallurgy

  • High Temperature Vacuum Electric Resistance Furnace
  • Pilot Scale Rotary Kiln facility for Calcination
  • 150 KVA Submerged-Arc Furnace
  • Electrolytic cells (lab to bench scale) for molten salt electrolysis processes
  • Pusher-type Tungsten Reduction Furnace
  • Autoclaves (various capacities)
  • Pilot-plant leaching facilities
  • Multi-stages mixer settler units for solvent extraction
  • Pilot Scale E-waste Recycling Facility @Urban Ore Recycling Center
  • Pilot Scale (High Vacuum-High Temperature)  Electrothermal Process facility
  • Pilot Plant for Li-Battery Recycling
  • High Temperature-High Vacuum-Metal Distillation Facility
  • Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
  • Rotary Oxidation Furnace
  • Muffle furnaces up to 1500 °C
  • Top-charging Melting Furnace up to 1650 °C
  • Table-top SEM
  • Chlorination set up
  • Pilot Scale Sinter Plant with LPG gas station
Projects : Non-Ferrous Processing Group